Top-seeded Wellsville starts Sectionals hot, Button twirls 2-hit shutout on rubber while Ritter, Haggerty captain bats at plate to send No. 16 Penn Yan home with 17-0 1st round victory

WELLSVILLE — The Sectional title defense for the top-seeded Wellsville Lions officially got underway from within the Lion’s Den, Friday night.

Although some rain and some gloomy conditions surrounded the diamond for much of the battle, their opening round presence was felt against No. 16 Penn Yan going down the stretch, as they scored all 16 of their runs in the last three innings of play to put a bow on what was a 16-0 shutout of the Mustangs.

The two foes battled it out early in the first three innings of play, as both Penn Yan and Wellsville remained at bay at the plate across three shutout frames. After one runner is left stranded in the top of the fourth inning for the Mustangs, the Lions (13-3) immediately hit the gas and went for a cruise, unloading six ice-breaking runs — two of those off a two-run double connected by Brennen Geffers at the bottom of the order with the bases loaded.

The momentum showed no signs of slowing down after a fifth straight shutout frame was tossed by Anthony Button on the hill, as Wellsville scratched nine additional runs across in the bottom of the fifth to eclipse the double-digit threshold, officially signaling their advance towards the Class B Quarterfinal round after the weekend.

In the midst of the offensive outburst, Button was stellar in his first ever start on the mound during Sectionals, as he proceeded to hold Penn Yan to just two hits with 10 strikeouts and four walks.

“This was Anthony’s first Sectional start, and a complete game shutout from a sophomore like that was exactly what we needed,” said Lions coach Tom Delahunt. “He threw strikes, controlled the zone and spotted his pitches well. I was really happy to see him get that success today. Everyone got a chance to come in and play as well, even the JV call-ups. This was a great win number one, and now we can put a couple of good days of practice together to get ready for the next round after the weekend.”

The Lions finished with 16 runs off 11 hits, with Matt Ritter and his perfect 3-for-3 outing captaining the way forward, as he drove in a run and scored three times. Gavin Haggerty had two hits of his own to chip in, driving in three and scoring a run in the process.

Up next, Wellsville will now prepare to head for a neutral site for Quarterfinal battle on Tuesday, as they take on either No. 9 North Rose-Wolcott or No. 8 Waterloo at a first pitch designation yet to be determined.

The Cougars and Tigers are scheduled to play this afternoon at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua at 1 p.m.

Penn Yan 000 000 0 — 0 2 3

Wellsville 000 691 X — 16 11 2

PY – Aiden Geffre (LP) (3K, 4BB), Ethan Robinson (5) (2BB), Ethan D’Archangelo (5) (BB), Maison Burd (5), Tyler Gilbert (6) (3K, 3BB) and Jayden Brown.

WLSV – Anthony Button (WP) (CG, 10K, 4BB) and Matt Ritter, Tyler Rahr (7).